Stop Congressional Pay Raise for 2009

Given these facts:

1) That our US economy is in the worst recession in decades, which looks likely to continue through 2009 [1],

2) That Congress is asking financial and automotive industry executives to take pay cuts and reduce excessive compensation [2],

3) That over 400,000 American workers PER MONTH have lost their jobs during the past three months [3], and

4) That Congress is awarding itself an automatic 2.8% annual pay raise ($4700) effective January 1, 2009 in the midst of all this turmoil [4],

We, the American people, ask you, the members of Congress, to take the necessary steps to rescind the pay raise you will receive on Jan. 1, 2009, either proactively or retroactively. If a consensus cannot be reached, we ask that individual Senators and Representatives give back your raises as a show of good faith and your sincere concern for the future of our American economy.

Doing so would not only showcase your resolve in remedying our overburdened economy, but also that you indeed care about the welfare of the American people. It will show you recognize the plight of millions of Americans who cannot find work and cannot pay their bills. Most importantly, it will show that you put the concerns of the American people above your own.

Please consider this request in the spirit of unity which it is intended. To overcome these troubled times, we must all work together, sacrifice together, to strengthen each other and our country.

My name is Lynn Fuston and I make this request on behalf of all American citizens.

[1] http://money.cnn.com/2008/11/03/news/economy/nabe_survey/index.htm

[2] http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/11/21/pelosi-reid-detail-demands-from-auto-companies

[3] http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/webfeatures_econindicators_jobspict_20081205

[4] http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Members-Congress-Due-Award-Themselves/story.aspx?guid=%7B02CE0BA2-256E-4D38-BC83-D2E9697D32B9%7D